Landscape Character Supplementary Planning Document ...

City of Bradford Metropolitan District CouncilLocal Development Framework For Bradford5.0 EXISTING FRAMEWORK OF LANDSCAPE CLASSIFICATION, DESIGNATION ANDPOLICY5.1 The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council has an existing framework ofdesignations and policy relating to the environment all of which has an influence on thelandscape in its entirety. Designations and policies have a hierarchy from Internationalto National, Regional, District wide and local.5.2 The district has a similar covering of policies and designations for nature conservation,geology, and the built heritage/archaeological sites all of which contribute to the qualityof the landscape.5.3 At the district wide level, the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council’s ReplacementUnitary Development Plan (RUDP), which was adopted in October 2005, is the currentbasis on which planning applications are determined. The relevant policies in the RUDPinclude UDP2 and UDP3, which aim to restrain development in the countryside, butwhere development does occur, to ensure it maintains or enhances the character of thewider environment and heritage assets, environmental resources and biodiversity.5.4 Landscape Designations5.4.1 There are no international or European landscape designations within Bradford. Areasof England and Wales whose landscape and natural beauty are considered to be ofnational importance are designated as either National Parks or Areas of OutstandingNatural Beauty (AONB). Bradford district does not contain either of these designations.5.4.2 Although not statutory designations, the joint publication between the CountrysideCommission and English Nature, the Character Map of England sub-divides the districtinto three main character areas; the South Pennines, the Yorkshire Southern PennineFringe and the Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire Coalfield. These aredescribed in Section 6.0. These characteristics provide an important strategic frameworkfor issues affecting the natural and cultural landscape.5.5 Green Belt5.5.1 The Green Belt has been defined in accordance with the government guidance on greenbelts. This was first set down in Circular 42/55 and was been carried forward intoCircular 14/84 and Planning Policy Guidance Note 2 (PPG2) Revised January 1995.PPG2 sets down five main purposes for the Green Belt:• To check the unrestricted sprawl of large built up areas• To safeguard the surrounding countryside from further encroachmentLandscape Character Supplementary Planning DocumentOctober 2008 Page 8